A Message from the Federal Minister of Sport & Persons with Disabilities the Hon. Carla Qualtrough

A Message from the Federal Minister of Sport & Persons with Disabilities the Hon. Carla Qualtrough

September 21, 2018

As Canada’s Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities, I believe that our country’s diversity is our strength—and when we include people with disabilities, we create a stronger Canada for everyone.

It is my pleasure to announce that launching this spring, for the first time in many years, an annual national week devoted to inclusion and accessibility.

From May 28 to June 3, 2017 National AccessAbility Week will celebrate, highlight and promote inclusion and accessibility in our communities and workplaces across the country.

We’ve made great strides in promoting inclusion for Canadians with disabilities, but there is still much work to do.
To create a truly inclusive society, we need to change the way we think, talk and act about barriers to participation and accessibility—and we need to do it right from the start, not as an afterthought. An inclusive Canada is one where all Canadians can participate and have an equal opportunity to succeed.

National AccessAbility Week will aim to bring this perspective to the forefront for Canadians, and highlight some of the important initiatives this government and its partners are undertaking to bring about this change.

Please join us in celebrating National AccessAbility Week. I invite you to host events in your own local communities, and participate on social media. More information will be available in the coming weeks on Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada, and I encourage you to follow @AccessibleGC on Twitter, Accessible Canada on Facebook and follow the hashtag #AccessibleCanada and #AccessAbility for the latest information.